If you’re convicted of a federal crime, you may face more than an extended prison sentence. You may lose your job and your license or struggle to find housing once you’ve served your sentence. If you want to challenge the federal charges brought against you and protect your future, you can turn to a Vista federal crimes lawyer for support.
Simmrin Law Group and our Vista criminal defense lawyers can help you prepare to undergo a federal investigation and challenge the charges brought against you. Our team has crafted defenses against a wide range of federal accusations, supporting thousands of clients with our decades of legal experience.
What’s the Difference Between a State and Federal Crime?
Federal crimes are often viewed as the more severe cousins of state crimes. This is often the case, as federal crimes can encompass wide-reaching, multi-state endeavors, including fraud, organized crime, conspiracy, money laundering, and visa violations.
There are more differences between state and federal crimes than the scope of a person’s alleged misconduct, though. The biggest differences between state and federal crimes include:
- The resources prosecutors have available to them while investigating an alleged crime
- The penalties that the defense faces for their alleged crimes
- The long-term impacts a conviction may have on the defendant’s quality of life
The United States’ federal courts also have a direct hand in prosecuting immigration violations. If you’re facing prosecution for allegedly violating United States immigration law, get in touch with our team members as soon as you can. We can protect you from ICE and fight to keep you in the country and your family together.
Can State Offenses Be Elevated to Federal Offenses?
Sometimes, crimes that would stay at the state level get elevated to the federal level due to their severity or scope. More specifically, the federal courts may take possession of a case if an alleged crime meets federal sentencing guidelines.
Cases tend to meet federal sentencing guidelines if you’re accused of particularly egregious offenses or if you allegedly crossed state lines to or while committing a crime.
For example, if you’re accused of robbing a bank and fleeing the state, federal courts may intercede and take your case.
For a free legal consultation with a federal crimes lawyer serving Vista, call (310) 896-2723
Designating a Federal Crime
Federal investigators need to take a closer look at an alleged crime before determining whether or not they need to elevate it to the federal level. Specifically, prosecutors must prove that the accused:
- Crossed multiple state lines or broke laws across multiple states,
- Committed a crime against the federal government or a federal servant, or
- Committed a crime of significant enough severity to break federal law
If you’re facing accusations of breaking federal law, or if your criminal case has been elevated to federal court, you can call on a Vista federal crimes attorney to discuss how, or if, your case met one of the aforementioned requirements. Our representation can make your circumstances clear while giving you the chance to fight back against accusations of criminal conduct.
Vista Federal Crimes Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
When Should You Contact a Vista Federal Crimes Lawyer?
The sooner you can contact a federal crimes lawyer, the sooner you can start building a defense against accusations of criminal misconduct. A Vista, CA, federal crimes attorney can begin working with you even if you haven’t been arrested, thereby making it easier to respond to investigation notices and unusual interactions with the police.
The more time our team has to investigate your case, the stronger your defense against accusations of federal misconduct can become. You can book a defense consultation with our team today to learn more about how we can approach your case.
How Long Does a Federal Case Last?
Unfortunately, there’s no blueprint for today’s federal cases. One case may resolve quickly, while another may take years. Most case timelines will vary based on the complexity of the charges brought against you, any applicable settlement negotiations you participate in, and whether or not you want to consider a plea deal.
You can trust an experienced attorney to prepare you for every stage of a federal case, from your arraignment and pretrial to the trial itself.
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Do Federal Prosecutors Ever Drop Charges?
Working with a federal crimes lawyer in Vista, CA, allows you to cultivate an individualized defense against the criminal accusations leveled against you. However, under some circumstances, our team may successfully get the prosecution to reduce or drop the charges brought against you.
If the prosecution intends to drop the charges brought against you, they will do so before your trial starts. Your criminal defense attorney can argue that you have grounds for dismissal based on the prosecution’s illegal conduct upon your arrest, lack of probable cause, lack of evidence, or improper complaint.
Getting your charges dropped will still leave a record of your arrest in your criminal history. However, without a conviction on your criminal record, you should retain the right to work in specialized fields, secure a loan, and retain your overall quality of life.
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Talk to Our Team Members About Your Case
You do not have to let your lack of familiarity with the federal criminal circuit prevent you from defending yourself against criminal charges. You have the right to ask a federal crimes attorney in Vista, CA, to represent you. An experienced lawyer can:
- Challenge the validity of the evidence brought against you
- Question any biases that led to your arrest
- Represent you in conversations with the prosecution and other legal entities
- Discuss the plea deals that might benefit you, as applicable
Our involvement in your case can specifically prevent police officers, prosecutors, and other parties from using your stress and lack of familiarity with the law against you throughout your case.
You can schedule a defense consultation with our federal crimes lawyers today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form